King Hamad Condemns Iranian Attack on Bahrain and Demands Accountability for Collaborators
King Hamad condemns Iranian attack on Bahrain, urges revoking citizenship of collaborators and demands lawmakers apologise or resign as GCC backs unity.
Bahrain’s monarch publicly denounced what he described as an Iranian attack on Bahrain, saying the incident targeted the kingdom’s security and the safety of its people. He said the episode exposed individuals who colluded with the enemy and called for firm accountability. The king framed the response as an expression of national anger and a test of loyalty for public officials. He stressed that Bahrain’s sovereignty and social cohesion must be defended without compromise.
Royal statement underscores betrayal and national security concerns
In remarks carried by the state news agency, the king said the episode revealed “faces and masks” of those who betrayed the nation by cooperating with foreign aggression. He emphasized that while Bahrain’s armed forces stood ready to repel any attack, a small number of people chose to assist the aggressor. The monarch described such cooperation as a profound betrayal that cannot be forgiven under national standards.
He warned that those who collaborated had forfeited any claim to the privileges of citizenship and of public trust. The king framed citizenship as a covenant rather than a mere document, saying that violating that covenant removes the moral and legal basis for continued membership in the national community. His words signalled a hard line toward both collaborators and officials who offered them any protection.
Demand for legal measures: imprisonment, denaturalisation and more
The king made clear that legal actions already taken, including prison sentences and the revocation of nationality, have strong public support and could be extended. He said Bahraini public opinion demanded strict enforcement of the laws that guard national security and sovereignty. The statement suggested that authorities will continue to pursue judicial and administrative measures against those proven to have aided the attack.
Officials in Bahrain have portrayed these measures as necessary to deter future interference and to reaffirm the integrity of state institutions. The monarch suggested that further penalties would be considered where evidence of betrayal is confirmed. This signals an ongoing legal and administrative review aimed at addressing both criminal liability and citizenship status.
Parliamentary tensions: lawmakers urged to apologise or leave
King Hamad directly criticized members of the legislature who, he said, sympathised with the attackers or failed to stand with the nation. He urged any legislator who had aligned with those who broke the law to either offer a clear public apology that restores trust or to join those they supported and resign their posts. The king described the parliamentary mandate as an honor that should not be held by those whose actions defile public trust.
The monarch warned of two paths for implicated lawmakers: contrition that rebuilds confidence, or departure from public office to make way for representatives committed to national unity. He said the parliamentary council must remain a secure and honorable institution, free from the influence of those he accused of undermining Bahrain’s security.
GCC solidarity cited as reinforcement for Bahrain’s stance
The king said the peoples of the Gulf Cooperation Council share common destiny and blood with Bahrain, and he reported broad regional support for the punitive steps taken against collaborators. He noted that GCC public opinion strongly endorses the judgments against those involved and in some quarters calls for even tougher action. The assertion was intended to frame Bahrain’s response as aligned with wider regional security concerns.
By invoking GCC unity, the royal statement positioned Bahrain’s response within a collective regional effort to deter foreign interference. The monarch used regional solidarity to reinforce the legitimacy of domestic measures, portraying them as coordinated reactions to a cross-border security threat.
Call for responsible free speech and preservation of national unity
King Hamad stressed that freedom must be exercised responsibly and does not extend to acts that threaten the state or endorse foreign aggression. He said freedom of opinion remains essential but cautioned that it must not degenerate into chaos or permit attacks on national fundamentals. The king reiterated that the protection of Bahrain’s integrity is a duty shared by all citizens and officials alike.
He appealed for a consolidated national front, asking citizens and institutions to prioritize the country’s security and cohesion. The monarch emphasized that loyalty and stewardship of Bahrain are collective responsibilities that transcend individual or partisan interests.
Bahrain’s leadership has signalled a sustained effort to pursue legal and administrative accountability while seeking regional backing for its measures. The king’s statement set clear expectations for public officials and underscored the priority the state places on defending sovereignty and unity.